Journal of Emergency Practice and Trauma

Rhabdomyolysis following electrical injury without acute kidney injury

Document Type : Case Report

Authors

Alper Alp 1
Burcu Arslan 2
Dilek Gibyeli Genek 1
Bülent Huddam 1

1 Department of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, Mugla Sıtkı Koçman University, Mugla, Turkey

2 Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mugla Sıtkı Koçman University, Mugla, Turkey

https://doi.org/10.34172/jept.2022.33
Abstract
Objective: Rhabdomyolysis is an important etiology for developing acute kidney injury
(AKI). Among the many varying reasons for rhabdomyolysis, electrical injury seems to be
a lesser-known factor. The clinical presentation of rhabdomyolysis is usually in the form
of severe and widespread pain, tenderness, weakness in the muscles and dark urine. It
is characterized by the disruption of cell integrity in myocytes as a result of widespread
damage to skeletal muscles and the passage of intracellular components into the
circulation.
Case Presentation: Here we presented a case report of a young man who had
rhabdomyolysis induced by electrical injury which is relatively less common among the
other etiological factors with preserved renal functions. He had electrical injury related
wounds on extremities. Urgent intravenous fluid therapy was initiated as soon as his
admission to the emergency department (ED), without delay.
Conclusion: AKI is very common due to the nephrotoxic effect of myoglobinuria and the
prerenal status. It is rare that AKI does not develop in patients with a severe increase in
creatinine kinase. It is a very important point to start effective fluid therapy in a short time.

Keywords

Creatine kinase
Accidents
Occupational
Rhabdomyolysis
Fluid therapy
Subjects
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Journal of Emergency Practice and Trauma
Volume 9, Issue 1
January 2023
Pages 72-75

  • Receive Date 19 February 2023

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